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May

In which English Towers goes greenish

Filed under: Diary, Photos — English Mum @ 1:06 pm

So aul’ Thrifty’s working hard towards self sufficiency, and although I’m not in the same league, I’m moving swiftly towards my dream of wandering out of the kitchen into my little kitchen garden and picking me own lettuces for tea (oh and I’m still working on Hubby with regard to the chickens). The trouble is, I’m dithering a bit as to where to put my veggie patch. This being Cavan, the wind fair howls across the garden and our teeny Beech hedge is not much of a windbreak. Being a pampered pet I’m not actually going to do the digging (don’t be silly, lovely D, our landscaper, is going to build me a raised bed complete with railway sleeper edges). But first I have to decide where to put the bloody thing. Here’s the view of the back garden from the kitchen door. As you can see, it’s very slopey. And on this side, it’s rabbit central as it’s surrounded on two sides by the field:

Then this is the view from the kitchen door towards the left, which still backs on to the field, but is next to D’s garden (and I don’t think he’ll hop over the fence in the night and nick my lettuces, although you never know….).

Down by the house it’s a little more sheltered, and getting somewhat overcrowded with all my growbags and stuff all waiting for a home. The two terracotta pots contain mint (far side of the patio doors), basil (dying) and thyme, and the growbags have got aubergine, courgette and rocket seeds. The other pots are fennel (the frondy things), a rhubarb plant (next to the spade), and a flat leafed parsley in the dog bowl (don’t ask).

These are sweet peas for purely aesthetic purposes, but I like them so that’s okay.

And then inside I’ve got two trays of dwarf french bean seedlings, a tray of spring onion seedlings, and another of tomato seedlings, all waiting for me to get a shift on and plant them out. See, you’re impressed aren’t you? They might be manicured, but my fingers are definitely a teeny bit green. Heh.

24 Comments »

Good luck. I have a tomato plant.All my energy and concentration go’s toward keeping this safe and unbugged.I saw an ad on t.v for a tomato plant that hangs down in a special pot which is what i was going to do but the bloody thing wont stop growing straight up. I bought my son all the minty basely cilantro stuff as he likes to cook.He can grow the stuff then feel so grateful to me for giving him the plants he will feed me.I learned a couple of things bringing up four sons.

Comment by june in florida — May 28, 2008 @ 1:54 pm
Hmm, interesting dilemma English Mum. Your plants are looking brilliant by the way, and if you’re anything like me, the veggie growing will become slightly addictive, so I’d suggest to give yourself room in your plans for expansion. Ok, to the location… have you thought about a horse shoe/U-shaped garden that follows the contours of your setting area, with perhaps a few feet of grass still between the setting area and your U-shaped garden bed.. or, perhaps one long bed, along the side of your garden next to the hedge (which may give you some wind protection and may be a better place if you need to put up unsightly wire to sheild your plants from the bunnies). That right hand side of your field looks nice, there’s a stick half way down your photo, and you could make a long bed from there down towards your driveway (although, that location may be visisble to people on your street). Equally so, the left hand side looks good too, but of course, you may not want to crowd your lovely neighbours. Most of all though, be some where close to water and where you’re going to want to be - if you like it there, the plants will too. Can’t wait to see how it turns out, I’m very excited !

Comment by Coastal Aussie — May 28, 2008 @ 2:28 pm
Mr. DBM would be envious of all the space you have. We have a tiny garden and he is trying to pack it as full of veggies as he can, while I am trying to pack full of flowers - veggies are all good and practical, but flowers are just so pretty and they make me smile. Anyway, you would be surprised how many lettuces, spinach plants, peas, onions and strawberry plants you can squeeze in between the delphiniums, poppies, campanula, irises and lupins. The cats have their own little patch of catnip, so they are happy and hyped. Mr. DBM has runner beans waiting to go, I have sweet peas. I wonder who will get theirs in first and claim that last square inch of soil?

Comment by Don't Bug Me! — May 28, 2008 @ 4:39 pm
Oh go for it English Mum!.
Once you’ve tasted your own lettuces (picked from your own garden) at supper time you’ll never pick up another bag of ‘washed leaves’ in the supermarket.Our herb garden is absolutely thriving although we’ve had to banish the mint to its own bed..its running riot as is it wont and the second crop of lettuces (listen to me saying ‘crop’ with a straight face is ready to eat!.I’ve planted courgettes also and am planning a nice winter vegetable garden as we speak..I’ll be happy to leave those perfectly formed Tesco veggies behind me for good.
Best of luck with it all and if you need support/advice from a fellow begginer just shout.

Comment by Isitjustme? — May 28, 2008 @ 6:39 pm
We did grow all our own stuff once, but I just can’t do it anymore. The pots on the patio are enough for me! SO beaucoup d’admiration pour vous, and good luck!

I’d put the veg garden as close as possible to the back door. Imagine running out for supplies in a howling gale or a thunderstorm! LOL!

Comment by Jay — May 28, 2008 @ 6:39 pm
Oh and you MUST get yourself (but you’ve probably already done so) a composting thingammy..They are brilliant for producing the king of slimy gunk that makes things grow.You might also consider putting on your wellies and popping over to those cows you mention to collect their er..leavings.Its the BEST veggie food ever.

Comment by Isitjustme? — May 28, 2008 @ 6:48 pm
Jaysus EM, I’d say you were outstripping me. Close to the house and put some chicken wire over the top to keep out the bunnies (or shoot em and eat em). Get a pig too

Comment by Thriftcriminal — May 28, 2008 @ 7:32 pm
I am way out of my league here…so I will just say hello and good luck…I do not even have a blade of grass where we are renting! Two pots of basil in the kitchen, oh and a few mixed pots of flowers outside…

Comment by Natalie — May 28, 2008 @ 8:36 pm
I could send you some compost - Mr. DBM’s composter is full and we have no garden left to put it on. He is thinking of getting another one……..sigh……he really needs a bigger garden.

Comment by Don't Bug Me! — May 28, 2008 @ 10:01 pm
What a great garden, EM! Why don’t you fence it ’round so Bertie can play off leash?! I guess you can see where my priorities are LOL I got railroad ties a LONG time ago for a raised garden - they’re still lying comfortably along the fence line!

Comment by SUSAN B — May 29, 2008 @ 12:25 am
Must be something in the air…. we have just found a new place to rent, and Mrs Moon is delighted to be able to reproduce her fathers garden ….

as for DBM … pave it, and get a dog !!!

Comment by Moon — May 29, 2008 @ 1:24 am
June: I like your style! I’m trying to train the little Englishes to be Gordon Ramsey (without the bad language, natch) in the kitchen so they can keep me well fed in my old age!

Aussie: Yes, I was thinking along the same lines of something around the patio, but then Hubby pointed out that when (if) the sun shines it might get trampled while we’re using the patio. I like the idea of it being in one of the top corners but as you say, it’s a long way from the hose! Oh, the dilemma. I’ll let you know what D the landscaper recommends. Wish I could have some of your lovely Aussie flowers in it though x

Comment by englishmuminireland — May 29, 2008 @ 6:54 am
Bugs: Wow, I’m impressed. You’ve obviously inherited Grandad Jack’s green fingers! It’s got to be sweet peas, methinks. Oh and I’d love strawberry plants too but I think I’m too late to grow them from seedlings now.

Isit: Ooh yes please, I’ll definitely need some help. How did you manage all that so fast in your new garden?! I think we need pics please x

Jay: Why, merci beaucoup! You’re right - it needs to be quite near the kitchen. I have to say I like the pots and growbags - no digging! We’ll see if I manage it or not. LOL!

Isit: I did wonder about poop. The chap whose house you can just see in the pic across D’s house has two horses. I might pop over and ask for some! x

Thrifty: Nah, you’ve got actual potato plants and seedlings - none of mine have even come up yet! Would love a pig though - will mention that to Hubby x

Nats: Ah, but you’ve got what I REALLY want - you live right near a HUGE shopping centre! And anyway, my basil died lol x

Bugs: OOh yes, I’ll need a composter. Can you get Mr DBM to tell me how to start one? x

Comment by englishmuminireland — May 29, 2008 @ 6:59 am
Susan: Well, there is a fence (you can just see it behind the trees) but I’m afraid it’s not Bert proof and round the front we need a gate. I’d love that though - can you imagine him running around? He’d be like a pig in poo! x

Comment by englishmuminireland — May 29, 2008 @ 7:03 am
Moon: Paving? Sacrilege! Ohh imagine the stuff Mrs Moon can grow in that gorgeous sunshine! Lucky, lucky, lucky x

Comment by englishmuminireland — May 29, 2008 @ 7:04 am
I’d go for a big poly-tunnel.

Comment by Mary — May 29, 2008 @ 8:49 am
Oh, and forget about the pig!

Comment by Mary — May 29, 2008 @ 11:17 am
I’ve got no green fingers or thumbs whatsoever, so I wouldn’t be the best person to advise you! I kill plants - usually with love though. In an ‘oooh, I haven’t watered them for at least half an hour and they’re looking thirsty…’ kind of a way.

Let us know what you decide

Comment by Wee Jen — May 29, 2008 @ 11:19 am
And I’ve just thought, chickens are great but watch out for Mr. Fox!
If the greyhound doesn’t keep him away then get a gun.

Comment by Mary — May 29, 2008 @ 12:59 pm
To protect your chickens, take some advice from Sir Clarkson …. get some russian style ‘night goggles’, get some wine down your neck…… bit like a Clarkson affair !

Comment by Moon — May 29, 2008 @ 3:34 pm
Horse poop! the very thing!.Sure you’ll be falling down with produce in no time!.
Yep I was quick off the mark, I had everything in the grow bags in early March and had them all ready for the veggie patch Mr Isit? dug for me.

Comment by Isitjustme? — May 29, 2008 @ 5:58 pm
Mary: Poly tunnel..hmmm…sounds a bit industrial!

Oh, and I’d forgotten about the pig!! x

Jen: I did that with my basil. I was so set on making my own pesto that I think I drowned the poor thing.

Mary: Okay, so that’s the pig and the chickens out then. Maybe I’ll stick to veg! x

Moon: Ugh, don’t. Hubby and the kids are already on about buying a gun to ‘protect our home from the rabbits’. As if they dress up in little furry commando suits and burst in when you’re watching telly!

Isit: Girl, you’re just too organised. Moving AND pre-planned seedlings? Bet you’ve got your Christmas list organised too?! Ooh, how was Bruce, I forgot to look on your blog x

Comment by englishmuminireland — May 29, 2008 @ 7:00 pm
Oh how I would love a little patch for veggies…. we’re in the middle of working out what to do with the garden too - where to pave, where to put a barbeque, where to put a shed etc etc. I think in the mean time I’ll have to invest in some grow bags too.

Comment by Ruth E — May 29, 2008 @ 8:53 pm
Yuo would be 10000% crazy to have a gun in the house… truely mad !

Comment by Moon — May 29, 2008 @ 10:17 pm